Truss-lift correction device

ABSTRACT

The Truss-Lift Correction Plate and the Truss-Lift Correction Bracket that I have invented, if installed to my specifications, will correct the Truss-Lift problem that is well known to those in the building industry who use wood trusses as supports for the roof system. Both, the plate and the bracket will facilitate movement when Truss-Lift occures and therby eliminate unwanted noise or other stress factors.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention of the Truss-Lift Correction Device relates to the part of the building indutry in which wood trusses are used to support the roof. Those who work with wood trusses are familiar with “Truss-Lift” and its resulting problems. The major problem being the lifting up of interior walls off the floor which results in much unwanted noise when walking on the floor, because either the flooring material slides up and down on the nails with which the wall plates were nailed to the floor or the wall plate slides up and down. It could be either one.

[0005] The Truss-Lift Correction Device that I have invented, if installed to my specifications, which will follow, will eliminate the noise problem when Truss-Lift occurs. The Truss-Lift Correction Device has two different geometric forms. one is a straight plate and the other a bracket bent in the middle at a 90° angle. Specifics will follow.

[0006] The Truss-Lift Correction Plate is a flat plate of galvanized 14 gauge metal. It has the dimensions of 3½ inches wide by 7 inches long. On one end of the plate are three slotes which are 1½ inches long by {fraction (3/16)} inches wide. On the other end of the 3½ inch center line of the plate are four holes which are {fraction (3/16)} inch in diameter.

[0007] The Truss-Lift Correction Bracket is identical in all specifications of the Truss-Lift Correction Plate, except that it is bent at a 90° angle at the 3½ inch midpoint of the plate. The placement of the slotes and holes in the plate and bracket are as specified in the drawings.

[0008] The installation and application of the Truss-Lift Correction Pate and Bracket are as follows: The four hole side of, both, the plate and the bracket is to be nailed solid to the top of the interior walls at the points where the trusses cross the interior walls. The slotted side of both the plate and the bracket is to be nailed to the trusses wherever the plate or bracket is applied. It is of utmost importance, however, not to drive the nails in the three slotes solid to the trusses, but the nails must have a ⅛ inch gap/play between the plate or bracket and the trusses so that the trusses can move up freely and not lift the walls off the floors when Truss-Lift takes place. Nails should be 16 d sinkers for both the hole and slotted sides of the plate and bracket. It is also very important that the nails that are placed in the slotes are placed at the bottom of the slotes, that is, as closely as possible toward the top of the walls.

[0009] When a Truss-Lift Correction Plate is applied the center line must be at the junction of the interior walls with the trusses. The 90° angle of the Truss-Lift Correction Bracket, of course, determines the placement of the bracket on the interior walls in relationship to alltruss crossings.

[0010] Since trusses are usually anchored on load-bearing exterior walls, they will be crossing most interior walls at right angles, therefore, the Truss-Lift Correction Bracket will be used to a much greater extent than the flat plate. The 90° angle bracket, of course, can be used at any angle crossing.

[0011] Both, the Truss-Lift Correction Plate and the Truss-Lift Correction Bracket can also be used in other applictions where any direction of movement must be avoided or facilitated, depending on the nature of the problem.

[0012] As far as the exterior bearing walls are concerned, the trusses should be anchored according to local building codes. That is, the trusses should be secured solid to the bearing walls.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The invention of the Truss-Lift Correction Device in both the plate and bracket form is to correct Truss-Lift by facilitating movement between trusses and walls and as a result eliminate unwanted noise (floor squeaks). The appliction of the plate and bracket results, of course, in a much better construction practice than nailing the trusses solid to the walls at all crossings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Drawing #1 shows the Truss-Lift Correction Plate and drawing #2 shows the Truss-Lift Correction Bracket. The Truss-Lift Correction Plate is a flat plate of galvanized 14 gauge metal. It has the dimensions of 3½ inches wide by 7 inches long. On one end of the plate are three slotes, each being 1½ inches long by {fraction (3/16)} inches wide. On the other end of the 3½ inch center line of the plate are four holes each being {fraction (3/16)} inch in diameter. The placement of the slotes and holes in the plate are as specified in drawing #1.

[0015] The Truss-Lift Correction Bracket, as shown in drawing #2 is identical in all specifications of the Truss-Lift correction Plate, except that it is bent at a 90° angle at the 3½ inch midpoint of the plate. The placement of the slotes and holes in the bracket are as specified in drawing #2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The Truss-Lift Correction Device in plate and bracket form is a device that is easily produced but is very unique in its concept, application and problem solving ability. A 7 inch long by 3½ inch wide galvanized 14 gauge metal plate is needed. one end of th plate has three 1½ long by {fraction (3/16)} inch wide slotes, placed in the plate at the positions as specified in drawing #1. The other end of the plate has four holes {fraction (3/16)} inch in diameter. Also placed in the plate at the positions as specified in drawing #1.

[0017] The Truss-Lift correction Bracket is of the same material as the plate. The size is also the same as the plate and the placement of the slotes and holes in the bracket are also identical to that of the plate. The one difference between plate and bracket is that the bracket is bent at a 90° angle at the 3½ Inch midpoint of the flat plate. Details for the positions of the slotes and holes in the bracket are given in drawing #2.

[0018] The use of my invention is also verysimple, but must be applied and installed according to my easily understood instrucions in order to avoid the Truss-Lift problem. The following is a detailed application and installation instruction for theTruss-Lift Correction Plate and Bracket: The four hole side of both plate and bracket must be nailed solid to the top of the interior walls at the points where where the trusses cross the interior walls. The slotted side of both the plate and the bracket must be nailed to the trusses wherever the plate and bracket is applied. It is of utmost importance, however, not to drive the nails, one per slot, solid to the trusses, but the nails must have a ⅛ inch gap/play between plate or bracket and the trusses so that the trusses can slide up freely and not lift the wails off the floors when Truss-Lift takes place. It is also important to use 16 d sinker nails for both the slots and holes in the plate and bracket since the size of the slots and holes were designed for 16 d sinkers. Further, it is important that the nails that are placed in the slots must be placed at the bottom of the slots, that is, as closely as possible toward the top of the walls in order to allow sliding room when the trusses move upward.

[0019] When a Truss-Lift Correction Plate is applied the center line must be at the junction of the interior walls with the trusses. The 90° angle of the Truss-Lift Correction Bracket, of course, determines the placement of the bracket on the interior walls in relationship to all the truss crossings. Since trusses are usually anchored on load bearing exterior walls, they will be crossing most interior walls at right angles, therefore, the Truss-Lift Correction Bracket will be used to a much greater extent than the flat plate. The 90° angle bracket, of course, can be used at any angle the trusses cross the interior walls.

[0020] Both, the truss-lift correction plate and the truss-lift correction bracket can be used in other applications where 

I claim as my invention:
 1. The Truss-Lift Correction Plate and 2, the Truss-Lift Correction Bracket, both described in the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, and also production details given in drawing #1 and drawing #2. 3, I claim the size of the plate and bracket. 4, I claim the placement and size of the slots and holes in the plate and bracket, and 5, I claim the application and installation methods of the plate and bracket as my invention as All are described in the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION. 